Published: 28 Feb 2017 Source: University Relations Office (URO)
The KNUST Moot Court team made history on Thursday 9 February, 2017 when they beat the GIMPA Law Faculty team to become the first Law Faculty in the country to ever win the Ghana qualifying round of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. All past Ghana qualifying rounds, the last of which was held in 2010, had been won by the Ghana School of Law.
Dr. Lydia A. Nkansah, Dean, Faculty of Law presenting the trophy and a plaque to Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, Vice Chancellor.
Presenting the trophy and a plaque to the Vice Chancellor, the team headed by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, KNUST, Dr. Lydia A. Nkansah stated that the moot court was a simulated court proceeding in which law students, acting as lawyers, argue a hypothetical case before a panel of judges who may, in fact, be real judges or just lawyers. Organized by the International Law Students Association (ILSA) and drawing participation from law students all around the world, the Philip Jessup Moot Court was the largest annual International Law moot court competition. The theme of this year’s competition is on the legal responsibilities that states owe to each other over shared natural resources and world heritage sites as well as the legal liability of a state whose domestic policy results in the migration of its citizens to a neighboring state as refugees.
The Ghana qualifying round which took place at GIMPA in Accra saw teams from the faculties of law from KNUST, GIMPA, University of Cape Coast, Central University and Lancaster University, Ghana compete against each other from Tuesday 7 February to Thursday 9 February, 2017. The KNUST team, comprising Ms. Belinda Boahin, Ms. Kezia Owusu-Ansah, Ms. Afia Poku, Mr. Benedict Nii Kraku and Mr. Ephraem Noah Adamtey won four out of their five contests including the finals in which they beat the GIMPA team to emerge the national champions. They also picked up the “Best Memorial Award” for being the team that drafted the most well-researched and persuasive written legal arguments in the Ghana qualifying round.
In a statement, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, said it was satisfying to have students bring such honour to the University. He thanked the lecturers for moulding the students into such leaders and hoped that they would continue to work hard and bring more laurels to the university. In appreciation of their victory, the Vice Chancellor promised to finance the cost of their trip to Washington DC as well as see to their visit to some Universities in Washington DC.
With this feat, the KNUST and GIMPA teams, which came first and second, have qualified to participate in the White & Case International Round of the Jessup Moot Court Competition scheduled to take place in Washington DC from 9 to 15 April 2017.
The KNUST Moot team was coached by Dr Ernest Owusu-Dapaa and Mr. Christopher Nyinevi. Ms. Esther Ofosuhene, Ms. Erica Sam, Ms. Akua Nyantakyiwaa Sarpong, Mr Oliver Fobi, and Mr. Jason Kwamena Owusu assisted the team with research.